Street sign



y 1934- H. P. ANDRESEN 9,849

STREET SIGN Filed March 27, 1935 v 2 a if? 3 1 Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STREET SIGN 11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in street signs and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The street sign of this application is of the general type shown in my prior Patent No. 1,335,870 of April 6, 1920 but embodies certain improved features.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a street sign of this kind wherein the sign plates are secured in position in the holder or head without the aid of screws, bolts or like devices.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sign of thiskind wherein the sign plates and holder are provided with interengaging parts that position said plates and prevent either a lateral or longitudinal movement of the sign plates when they are secured together as a unit.

means devoid of screws or the like, for connecting the sign plates together at their ends and which means may be readily applied and removed without the aid of tools of any kind.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sign of this kind including a holder having ways at opposite sides into which a pair of signrplates may be inserted from opposite ends, the holder and plates coacting to position the plates, there being means associated with the ends of the plate for securing them together as a unit so that when thus secured together, neither plate can be moved in either direction in the ways in the holder.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a street si n which consists of but a few simple and strongly constructed parts that may be quickly and easily assembled.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of a street sign embodying the preferred form of the present invention.

Fig. 2is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view through a part of theimproved street sign on an enlarged scale as taken on. the line 2-,2

of i Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the elements of the sign for connecting the ends of the sign plates together in spaced relation.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of; another element of the sign associated with the element Another object of the invention is to provide shown in Fig. 3 for spacing theends of the sign plates apart in the desired connected together relation.

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing parts of the holder and one of the sign plates and more particularly the engagement between said parts to position said plates with respect to the holder as will more fully appear.

In general, the improved street sign includes a sign plate holder adapted to be mounted on and secured in any suitable manner to the top end of an upright support. This support may be in the nature of a post or pole. Said holder-is provided, upon opposite sides, with pairs of top and bottom flanges, the flanges of each pair; having oppositely facing grooves or ways therein. In said grooves or ways, are engaged the top and bottom marginal parts of an associated sign plate. These plates, which bear-the name of the street or other desired information, are so formed that the indicia thereon stands out prominently against a neutral background.

The top and bottom margin of each sign plate is provided near its mid-portion with rearW-ardly punched shoulders. These shoulders are adapted to engage-one end of the flanges of an associated pair of flanges to position the plate centrally with respect to the holder.

In each end margin of each plate a plurality of openings is provided which in this instance are shown as slots arranged parallel with the end edges of the plate. Associated with thesame end of both plates is a clip which embraces said ends and which has fingers or prongs to extend through and beyond the slots in said plates. This clip holds the plate ends from spreading apart and associated therewith are devices that engage the fingers to spaceand hold said plate ends in proper spaced relation. In this manner, said plate ends are held from both the inside-and outside thereof against further movement toward or away from each other.

With the plates thus held together as a unit andhaving the shouldered engagement withthe ends of the pairs of flanges on the holder or head, the platescannot be moved lengthwise in either direction andtherefore, cannot be removed from the holder. To remove them from the holder, the devices atthe ends thereof must first be removed, after which the plates may be withdrawn from theholder from that side with which the shoulders are engaged.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the drawing:

1 indicates as a wholethe supporting post, for

the sign which may be an upright piece of pipe having a suitably anchored bottom end.

On the top end of said post is mounted the sign plate holder or head 2. Said holder comprises a tubular body 3 closed at its top end and fitting upon the top end. of the post and secured thereto in any suitable manner as by the set screw 4 shown in Fig. 2. At opposite sides of the body, are pairs of top and bottom parallel flanges 5 and 6 respectively of a length approximating the diameter of said body. The flanges of each pair are provided with oppositely facing grooves or ways '7 and 8 respectively.

99 indicate the sign plates which are of a suitable length to bear the desired street name, or other desired indicia, 10, as shown in Fig. 1. Said plates which are marginally beaded for stifiness, are of a width or height approximating the distance between the bottoms of the opposed grooves 7 and 8 so that they may be entered lengthwise thereinto from one end. Portions of the top and bottom margins of each plate are punched out to provide rearwardly extending fingers or shoulders 11 as best shown in Fig. 5. These shoulders are so arranged in said plate that when engaged against the end of the associated flanges 5 and 6, they will position the plates so that their ends are spaced equal distances on each side of the post. In this respect it is pointed out that the shoulders of one plate will be engaged against one end of its associated flanges 5 and 6 and the shoulders of the other plate will be engaged against the opposite end of its associated flanges. With the shoulders arranged as described, they will occupy the same position in all plates and the street names or other indicia will read correctly from opposite sides of the post.

In both end margins of each sign plate is provided a plurality of elongated openings or slots 12-12 arranged parallel with the end edges thereof. Associated with the same end of both plates are clips 13, one of which is best shown in perspective in Fig. 3. Said clip is in the form of a channel and as here shown, is of a width approximating, but slightly less than that of the tubular body of the holder and of a height or length approximating that of the sign plates. As shown herein each clip includes an end web 14 and side flanges 15-15, and extending inwardly toward each other from the free edges of said side flanges, is a plurality of fingers or prongs 16. These fingers are spaced in accordance with the slots 1212 in the sign plates and each finger is of a length approximating that of a slot 12.

Associated with each end clip is a spacer device 17 as best shown in Fig. 4. These devices take the form of a pair of spring fingers 18 which are connected together along their top ends as at 19 and are spread apart at their bottom or free ends as best shown in Fig. 4.

In assembling the sign, a sign plate is inserted endwise into the grooves '7 and 8 of a pair of flanges 5 and 6 from one end and then the other sign plate is inserted endwise into the grooves '7 and 8 of the other flanges 5 and 6 from the other end. Both sign plates are then moved inwardly of said grooves until stopped by the engagement of the sign plate shoulders or fingers 11 with the ends of the associated flanges 5 and 6 of the holder. When said plates have been moved into this position, the notches left by punching out said shoulders are positioned within the grooves 7 and 8 and are thus concealed, and the end edges of the sign plates are arranged in substantial alignment.

The same ends of both plates are then sprung in toward each other so that they are spaced no further apart than the spacing between opposed fingers 16 of a clip 13.

A clip 13 is then applied to these sprung-in ends so as to embrace them and with said fingers 16 lined up with the slots 12 in said ends, said fingers will extend through said slots. When this has been done the ends of the plates naturally spring apart to engage the flanges 15. This will hold said ends of the plates against further spreading after which a spacer 1'7 is applied. In the application of said spacer the spread-apart free ends are caused to straddle the top fingers 16 and said spacer is then pushed down to straddle the bottom fingers. With the spacer in place this holds the plate ends against movement toward each other.

A clip 13 and spacer 17 is then applied to the other end of both plates in like manner. With the plates thus connected together at both ends, it is obvious that they cannot be moved endwise through the holder in either direction because the shoulders 11 of one plate will resist this movement in one direction and the shoulders 11 of the other plate will resist this movement in the other direction.

To remove the sign plates, the spacers are first withdrawn. This permits of the plate ends to be sprung toward each other so as to clear the fingers 16 of the clips 13 which may then be removed. Each sign plate may then be moved endwise in a direction wherein the shoulders thereof move away from the ends of the flanges 5 and 6. This endwise movement is continued until the trailing end passes out through the grooves or ways in the flanges 5 and 6.

It is clear from the above that no screws, bolts or the like are required. Therefore, the sign may be readily assembled without the aid of any tools. A sign made in accordance with my invention, comprises but a few parts, is strong and durable and is of a pleasing and substantial appearance.

While in describing my invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts thereof, the same is to be considered only by way of illustration so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A street sign embodying therein a sign plate holder formed to provide top and bottom ways on each side of the holder, sign plates insertable into said ways from opposite ends thereof, coasting means on said holder and plates for limiting such insertion of said plates and to position them with respect to said holder, and means for connecting said plates together as a unit whereby said coacting means prevent movement of said plate members as a unit in either direction on said ways.

2. A street sign embodying therein a sign plate holder formed to provide top and bottom ways on each side thereof, sign plates insertable into said Ways from opposite ends thereof, coacting means on each plate and a part of said holder for limiting the insertion of said plates in said ways and for positioning said plates on said holder, and means for connecting said plates together as a unit whereby said coacting means prevent movement of said plates as a unit in either direction of their sliding guiding engagement with said, holder.

3. A street sign embodying therein a sign plate holder, a sign plate associated with opposite sides of said holder, means on opposite sides of said holder providing ways into which said plates are insertable from opposite ends thereof, coacting means on said holder and plate for limiting the insertion of said plates in said ways, and means for securing said plates together as a unit whereby said coacting means prevent movement of said plate members as a unit in said ways.

4. A street sign embodying therein a sign plate holder, a sign plate associated with opposite sides of said holder, means on opposite sides of said holder providing ways into which said plates are insertable from opposite ends thereof, means punched from each sign plate for engaging a part of the holder to limit the insertion of said plates in said ways and to position said plates with respect to said holder, and means for securing said plates together as a unit whereby said means punched from each sign plate so engage said parts of the holder as to prevent movement of said plates as a unit in said ways.

5. A street sign embodying therein a sign plate holder, means on opposite sides of said holder providing pairs of vertically spaced grooves, a sign plate insertable endwise into the grooves of each pair of grooves from opposite ends thereof, means providing stops for limiting the insertion of said plates in said grooves and for positioning said plates with respect to said holder, and means for connecting said plates together as a unit, said stops providing means preventing movement of said plates as a unit in either direction in said grooves.

6. A street sign embodying therein a sign plate holder, means on opposite sides of said holder providing pairs of vertically spaced grooves, a sign plate insertable endwise into the grooves of each pair of grooves from opposite ends thereof, means providing stops arranged on each plate to engage parts of said holder so as to limit the insertion of said plates in said grooves and to position said plates with respect to said holder, and means for connecting said plates together as a unit, said stops operating in connection with said parts of the holder for preventing endwise movement of said plates as a unit in either direction along said grooves.

7. A street sign embodying therein a pair of laterally spaced sign plates provided with openings in associated margins thereof and means applicable to said margins in the direction of their length for embracing said margins and preventing the lateral spreading between said margins and having portions extending through said openings in said margins.

8. A street sign embodying therein a pair of laterally spaced sign plates, means embracing associated margins of said sign plates and preventing lateral separation thereof, said means and margins being formed to provide interengageable tongues and openings for operatively connecting them together.

9. A street sign embodying therein a pair of laterally spaced sign plates, means embracing as-- sociated margins of said sign plates and preventing lateral separation thereof, said means and margins being formed to provide interengageable tongues and openings for operatively connecting them together, and means associated with said tongues for holding said plates spaced apart.

10. A street sign embodying therein a pair of laterally spaced sign plates provided with openings in their end margins, means embracing the outside of said ends and having portions extending through the openings in both plates, and means engaged on said portions of said embracing means and preventing movement of said sign plate ends toward each other.

11. A street sign embodying therein a pair of laterally spaced sign plates provided with a plurality of slots in their end margins, means embracing the outside of said margins and having pairs of inwardly projecting fingers extending through said slots and means between said plate margins and removably engaged on said fingers for spacing said margins apart.

HERMAN P. ANDRESEN. 

